Disclaimer; I own it all! I am JK Rowling! I fooled you all! Okay, I still don't own anything. :(

A/N I am so sad this story is over. I loved writing this one, and I have no plans for a sequel but you never know. I love all of my reviewers so don't let me down. Review, Review, Review until fanfic can't handle all of the reviews!

Thanks a million, Happy reading!

Jennifer

For better or worse

"Excuse me?" Ron said. "Are you feeling ill?"

She snapped her head back and looked at Ron and the cleric. She took a deep breath. It was all in her mind, she rationed.

"I'm sorry, continue." she said.

"I asked if it was your wish Hermione." the cleric said.

"It is my wish." she said.

"Please place the rings on your intended's finger."

Hermione looked around again.

'What is wrong with me?' she thought. 'This is my wedding, get it together.' she placed her ring on Ron's finger without looking at him. He went to place his on her finger when it happened. Hermione saw him standing at the back, leaning on the archway watching her. She pulled her hand back and took a deep breath.

Draco looked up at her, she looked beautiful but it was too late. He just had to see her in that wedding dress. Draco had read her letter over and over the past few days. He had decided he loved her enough to let her make her own choice. He smiled at her when she caught his eye. Then he saw it, she pulled her hand away and looked back at him.

"I'm sorry Ron. I just can't do this. I love you, but not like this, not as a wife should love a husband. You are my best friend and I hope someday you can get past this and we can be friends again, but I don't want to marry you." she told him.

"What? Don't you think you could have told me this before our wedding day?" he whispered.

"What the cleric said was true. Life without love is not life at all, and while I love you as a friend, I don't love you like a husband. I am sorry, but I am in love with someone else."

"Who?" he asked, his face turning red.

"I am sorry." she said. Then she turned and ran down the aisle away from him. Away from her family and away from her friends. She just needed to be with him right now.

He saw her running towards him and his heart leapt. He stood up straight and looked at her running, looked at her flowing dress, her curls that were coming out of her long veil. Tears were streaming down her face but she was smiling. It seemed to take forever for her to reach him but when she finally did he was at a loss for words. The whole crowd of people that were there for the wedding turned to look at her. Ron was chasing her down the aisle.

"Draco…love. You got my letter? You came!" she cried. He took her in his arms and hugged her.

"I finally sobered up and realized what you were trying to say." he smiled.

Ron caught up with her at last.

"Hermione, what are you doing? What is HE doing here?" Ron said out of breath.

"Ron, I am in love with him. I have been since we dated in seventh year, right before us. I am sorry." she sobbed. Ron looked at first like he was going to punch Draco in the face. And Draco noticed and prepared to fight for her. But Ron's face relaxed.

"Thank Merlin one of us came to our senses." Ron sighed. Hermione looked at him like his head fell off.

"What?" she asked. The crowd had inched closer to listen to the conversation.

"I was having doubts. Look, I am in love with someone too." he confessed.

"Lavender." she said flatly.

"Yes, Lavender." he said. "I am sorry I lied. I figured out I still love her. I didn't want to hurt you so I broke it off with her a few weeks ago. She wanted me to call off the wedding." he said sheepishly.

"I do love you Ron. But just as a friend. My best friend." she smiled.

"You too 'Mione. I just want you to be happy, even if it is with him." he motioned towards Draco.

"Listen, if you do anything, if you break her heart…well, just don't do it." he said extending his hand to Draco. Draco took and shook it looking more puzzled than ever. Harry cautiously walked up to the trio and asked;

"What in the hell is going on?"

Hermione laughed.

"Well it's a long complicated story Harry, but it comes down to this. Ron and I are not in love with one another. And we are not getting married." she grabbed Ron's hand and squeezed tightly. "But we are still best friends and I hope you will accept Draco too." she smiled. Harry looked at Hermione's other hand which was grasping Draco's. His emerald eyes widened.

"You and Malfoy?" he asked surprised.

"Yes, believe me I would love to tell you the whole sorted tale but now is not the time. Uh…LAVENDER!" Hermione yelled. Lavender walked slowly over to them not knowing what was happening. Her teary eyes looked at Hermione holding Ron and Draco's hand.

"Yes." she said demurely.

"Here." she handed Ron's hand to Lavender. "You and Ron belong together. He loves you, not me." she smiled and leaned in to hug the trembling girl. By the time Molly, Arthur, Ginny and Hermione's parents came over the whole thing had been sorted out and Harry stayed behind to explain things to everyone. Hermione grasped Draco's hand and left the chapel apperating quickly back to Malfoy Manor.

Still in her gown they ran across the lush green grass towards the house. The sun was shining high overhead and a cool September breeze blew at their backs seeming to push them towards Hermione's waiting destiny. Draco was holding her hand tightly as if she were going to evaporate on the spot. They reached the tall wooden doors and went inside quickly. The house-elves were startled and ran over to see what was going on.

"This is Hermione." Draco explained. "She is the new mistress of this house. Please treat her with the same respect as you treat me." They all bowed and smiled at her making her feel very uncomfortable.

"Thank you." she said smiling faintly. Then Draco grabbed her hand again and pulled her up the large staircase towards his master suite. The windows were open inside giving it a cool, clean smell. The smell of Autumn. She couldn't believe all that had happened in the last hour. Instead of celebrating her wedding to Ron she was at the manor, her new home, with the man she loved. It was all too good to be true.

"I just can't believe this is all happening." she said looking around again.

"It's fate." he said smiling.

"Fate? Hmmmm…I don't know about that." she said. "What made you change your mind?" she asked.

"Uh, the alcohol wore off." he said winking. "As soon as I sobered up literally I realized what you meant in your letter. That you were going to marry Ron if I didn't do something. But by the time I got there I thought it was too late. I saw you standing at the altar and figured I would just watch a moment before leaving. And I did but then I had to see you one last time and that's when you looked my way." Tears were slowly falling down his pale cheeks. "I thought I had lost you forever."

"I don't think I would have gone through with it anyway. I was so shook up before hand. Everyone had to calm me down and tell me I was doing the right thing." she said. "But I knew in my heart that I wasn't. I knew that I loved you, I always have.' she told him wrapping her delicate arms around his neck and positioning her head only a fraction of an inch from his face. Taking the cue he kissed her. It was soft, faint and wonderful. Her knees went weak.

"I can't imagine living without that for the rest of my life." she said. He kissed her again, this time a little more passionately, pushing his tongue inside of her mouth. She opened her mouth wider to allow him in. Her throat felt inexplicably dry and her stomach was filled with butterflies once again. She felt like a school girl getting her first kiss.

"I love you Draco." she said after breaking the kiss.

"I love you more Hermione." he replied breathlessly before kissing her again and gently reaching behind her to undo her dress. This however was not as easy as it seemed. There were about a hundred individual buttons on the back. She giggled into his mouth as she felt what he was trying to do.

"I think that is a lost cause." she whispered pulling her wand out of her bridal bag and vanished her clothes with a few simple words. All she wore now were her bridal under things. A lacy white bra and matching thong along with a garter belt and white thigh high stockings. The tiara remained in her hair until she pulled it out and released the freezing charm on her hair letting her long curls fall down her back.

"That's better." she smiled and he grinned.

"Thanks." he said as he kissed her softly.

"You can thank me in a minute." she said backing up towards the large bed. He took that as a cue and gently pushed her back so that she landed on the soft feather mattress. She smiled seductively at him as he took off his dress shirt and pants. He was wearing soft black silk boxers. The sight of his pale smooth body made her heart quicken. He was truly beautiful. He knelt on the bed next to her and began kissing her neck and collarbone, slowly making his way down to her breasts. She let out a small moan as he reached around and unhooked the bra that held them in. He pulled it off in one quick motion and exposed her creamy breasts. Her nipples were pink and hard from the cool breeze that blew across the bed. It was a wonderful sensation. He kissed each nipple, sucking on them and gently nibbling, before finding his way down her stomach to her naval. He kissed her bellybutton playfully before moving south once more. When he reached her white lacy panties he grinned like a child on Christmas morning. Draco grabbed both sides and yanked them down, tossing them casually on the floor. A second later his mouth was on her, sending her into an instant and prolonged orgasm. She yelped out in pleasure making him kiss and suckle harder. He gently nibbled her thigh before returning to her most sensitive area. She gasped and moaned like she never had before. Her whole body arched and tensed up with every approaching wave of pleasure.

"Oh…oh…OH!" she yelled. He just smiled and went back to enjoying listening to her scream. After a while he kissed his way upwards again and kissed her neck softly.

"I love you." he said again and she smiled.

"I love you too."

She pulled off his boxers with her foot releasing him from the tight clothing. It was obvious that he was ready. She smiled again as her leg grazed it, sending chills up both of their bodies. He closed his eyes as he felt it touch her soft skin. He shuddered before turning back to her smiling face.
"You are so beautiful." he told her. Her cheeks were flushed from the multiple orgasms she had just experienced. She blushed even deeper.

"Make love to me Draco." she whispered in his ear.

"Forever." he said right before he entered her. She tensed up and then relaxed once he was inside. She felt so good, so full, and so complete. Her mind soared with the possibilities of this new life. Every movement, every stroke brought her closer and closer to another shattering orgasm. She closed her eyes and pictured his boyish face the first time she saw him at Hogwarts. He was so cocky, but so beautiful back then. She opened her eyes and looked at his face now. It had kept much of the boyish charm of his youth, but his features had refined, giving him the look of a strong man. She couldn't help but smile at him. His closed eyes gave him the look of an angel. Her angel. She reached up and pulled his face closer, kissing him lightly on the forehead. It was sweaty, but cool to the touch. She inhaled his scent. Not cologne, not anything fake, but just a clean, raw scent that drove her mad every time she smelled it. He quickened his movements driving her over the edge once more. Not wanting him to end this so soon she sat up suddenly and flipped him on his back to that she was on top of him. He penetrated her even deeper and she moved her hips to accommodate him, but also so she was not in pain. He inhaled deeply at this motion.

"Oh gods." he moaned as she rocked her hips slightly at first, then a little more. Teasing, toying, and never wanting to stop. She kept up the antagonizing slow pace enjoying watching his face tense up then release with every stroke. She put her hands on his bare chest for balance and felt his heart beating rapidly. His breathing was quick and irregular too. She knew he was close to coming and decided not to prolong it for too much longer. After all, she had the rest of her lift to be with him. She braced herself and moved quickly, rocking back and forth at an incredible speed. His eyes widened watching her long hair cascade around her shoulders. Her face was flushed and a slight amount of sweat was building on her forehead and chest. She was moaning softly, then a little more. He didn't think he could hold it much longer.

"I'm about to…" he started.

"Oh…Draco!" she yelled and at that moment, that second, he came in unison with her. Spilling his seed inside of her waiting body. She lay next to him on the bed, touching his sweaty face gently. Wiping his hair off of his forehead and kissing it gently. He reached his hand around the back of her neck and pulled her head so that it rested in the nape of his neck.

"Marry me?" he asked softly in her ear.

"Yes." she replied in between breaths.

"Of course I will have to search the garden to find your ring." he grinned. She laughed.

He smiled and fell asleep with his future wife in his arms.

The End.